Why this guide: about 18,100 people a month search Google for “what is tsa precheck” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- What it isA DHS Trusted Traveler programme giving a dedicated, faster security lane at 200+ US airports on 90+ airlines
- Cost$76.75–$85 for five years depending on the enrolment provider; many credit cards reimburse it
- Better optionGlobal Entry ($120 for five years) includes PreCheck and adds expedited US customs on return from abroad
What you actually skip
In the PreCheck lane you keep shoes, belt and light jacket on, leave laptops and 3-1-1 liquids in the bag, and usually pass through a metal detector rather than a body scanner. Lines are typically shorter — the TSA reports most PreCheck passengers wait under 10 minutes. Children 12 and under can join a parent in the lane; 13–17 can if on the same reservation with a PreCheck indicator.
Who is eligible and how to enrol
US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents; citizens of some partner countries can apply via Global Entry instead. Apply online (five minutes), then attend a 10-minute in-person appointment for fingerprints and ID at an enrolment centre — IDEMIA, Telos and CLEAR run them, at airports, Staples stores and standalone sites. Approval usually takes days, sometimes weeks. You receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) to add to airline profiles and every booking.
Cost and the credit-card route
$76.75 (Telos, CLEAR) to $85 (IDEMIA) for five years; renewals from $70 online. Most premium travel cards — Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, United, Delta and American co-brands — reimburse the fee every four to five years as a statement credit. Active-duty military get it free with their DoD ID number.
Why Global Entry is usually the better buy
Global Entry costs $120 for five years, includes TSA PreCheck, and adds expedited customs and immigration on arrival in the US from abroad (kiosks or the mobile app; no paper form, a separate short line). The interview is harder to get — enrolment centres book months out, though 'Enrollment on Arrival' at international airports lets conditionally approved applicants interview when landing. If you fly abroad even once every couple of years, get Global Entry. NEXUS ($50, five years) does both plus Canadian expedited entry, for US and Canadian citizens and residents — the best deal if you can reach a NEXUS centre.
Booking it
Add your KTN to the traveller profile before booking through the engine's flights page — the PreCheck indicator prints on the boarding pass only when the KTN is on the reservation and the name matches exactly. See our Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck comparison, how early to get to the airport, and the carry-on packing guide.
Three things to get right
- Get Global Entry ($120) instead — it includes PreCheck.
- Add your KTN to every airline profile and every booking; check the boarding pass shows the indicator.
- Use a card that reimburses the fee.
